PADUCAH, Ky. (Nov 18, 2019) — A contractor for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) plans a daytime lane restriction on the U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland starting about 8:30 a.m., CST, today. This lane restriction with alternating flow controlled by flaggers is to allow protective metal plates to be removed from the bridge deck, completing a beam repair project that started November 1.
Motorists should be prepared for minor delays from about 8:30 a.m. to about 2:00 p.m. After 2:00 p.m., the contractor may have intermittent lane restrictions to allow the loading of equipment at the worksite. Flaggers will attempt to allow timely movement of school bus traffic through the work zone. The contractor anticipates all work will be completed and the work zone removed by about 6 p.m., today.
The bridge has been closed nightly to allow the repair work to be completed. The location of the bridge near the mid-point of U.S. 60 in Livingston County has created a critical transportation disconnect during the nightly closures.
A planned closure during the overnight hours on Sunday was cancelled to allow the protective steel plate to remain in place to help the concrete to fully cure. A lab test this morning indicated the concrete had met strength requirements to allow the bridge to return to normal traffic flow.
KYTC District 1 Chief Engineer Kyle Poat expressed his appreciation for the patience of commuters who endured 2 weeks of overnight closures required to complete the work.
The project included the replacement of beams damaged by overweight trucks crossing the structure that had forced a reduction in the bridge load limit. The restrictive load limit had created issues for farmers, a local rock quarry, and other businesses. The main focus of the project was to return the bridge to a normal 80,000 pound load limit. It will likely take a week or two for the bridge load limit to be revised.
Hall Contracting is the prime contractor on the bridge repair project.
The U.S. 60 Cumberland River Bridge at Smithland, also known as the Lucy Jefferson Lewis Memorial Bridge and the Smithland Bridge, is at U.S. 60 Livingston County mile point 12.697. The 1,817-foot through truss structure opened to traffic in 1931. The bridge is located at Cumberland River navigation mile point 2.7.
KYTC is currently in the final design phase for the construction of a new bridge immediately downstream from the existing structure. The new $45 million bridge remains on track for bidding in February 2020, with construction expected to take just over two years to complete.